Information Ethics: An investigation of different subcultures in a society

Abstract

This article highlights the importance and complexity of creating cultural assets (e.g. corporate norms, shared perceptions) in a global economy. We examine the relationship of the business environment and the gender subcultures on social‐related information technology (IT) issues by comparing the attitudes towards information ethics among Kuwaiti business students and Kuwaiti business practitioners. We find that attitudes towards information ethics issues differ depending on type of respondent and gender. However, the effect of type of respondent depends on gender. Cultural idiosyncrasies of the Middle East are partly helpful in explaining our results. An implication of our results is that cultural assets such as corporate norms and shared perceptions are not easily shaped and require a sustained commitment and investment to overcome the competing influence of forces such as national culture and gender effects.

Citation

Alshawaf, A., Adhikari, A. and Zhang, H. (2002), "Information Ethics: An investigation of different subcultures in a society", Review of Accounting and Finance, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 54-73. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026991